Parker v ??
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I'm definitely going in thinking AJ is the 70/30 favourite - BUT, I do think Parker can take him. But he'll need to fight a near perfect fight and that's the bit that worries me. I think we've seen Parker stagnate in the last couple of years and while he's still fast as a mofo, we haven't seen genuine stopping power, or real guile in the ring.
I'd love to believe the guff about AJ's chin, but that's bullshit imo. Sure he might not have the best chin, but can you get anywhere in the heavyweight division if you are made of glass, or as fragile as Parker and co are making out? I doubt it.
Do think Joe will have the edge in fitness - but again, will he use that edge over AJ, or piss it away with flurries of punches that do fark all. It was a few years ago but I remember Joe being gassed late in the fight against Ruiz and almost going down. If Ruiz had been a touch fitter I don't know if we'd be having this conversation!
Ok, I think that's enough glass half empty to keep secretly hoping for a Parker win.
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I think we find out a lot fairly early ,
How he handles the exchanges ,
if the difference in power and accuracy is significant , be concerned .
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I think the description of dark horse applies with JP.
He looks, from what we are seeing, to be a fitter, faster version of what we have seen over his past string of fights. A part of me thinks this may have been a cunning plan concocted by Barry, who has been here before with a fighter that was very well known in strengths and weaknesses. I suspect a bit of powder has been kept dry this time, partly to lure AJ into taking the fight, partly to add some surprise.
Whether the ability and skill is enough to pull off the plan will be another matter. -
I wondered if Barry and JP were smart enough to make the Fury fight look like a shit show. But then the idea is always to make a statement so the big money comes and comes sooner rather than later. I also think it's giving Barry far too much credit. He's a machismo throwback whos pep talks go a long the lines of "you can do it!" and "you've got to dig deep Joe".
I have seen some piss poor strategy across the Ruiz, Takam, last minute stand in and Fury fights. He always throws in combination but it's lazy, defensiveness alot of the time and inaccurate. I honestly think theres enough power there to do the job but if he's sloppy like he has been over the course of those troublesome fights he'll be flipping burgers at Burger King not endorsing them.
If he stays away, is patient and let's Anthony swing and miss then he is in with a big chance. Top heavy AJ may have trimmed up but he's still a monster and I think he's good for 7 rounds before his arms are fucked. JP is going to move more and throw more than Klitschko did and I think that will bode well for him if he can avoid that piston straight right and the canon uppercut.
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Yeah i wouldnt think they would try and be that clever , too risky , just dont think things have run as smoothly as they wouldve liked ,
My biggest fear going off his latest fights , he likes to lunge forward and throw punches in bunches , but its been easily telegraphed , one two three or one two three four , most of it being taken easily on the gloves , but at the end of the combo he has these moments where he kind of gets caught in no mans land with his hands down within punching range ,
I can see AJ sitting back , and he is a good counter puncher , blocking , waiting , then crack ,
I noticed Klitchko gave AJ problems at times circling him moving anti clockwise away from Joshuas right hand , AJ looked frustrated and just threw loopy left hands at him while he did this , hope Barry has taken notice .
Lets hope they have come up with a good fight plan
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UFC apparently want to throw their entire cheque book at AJ. Talking $600m for multiple fights. To me this seems like utter BS but we'll soon see. Im not linking to a website, just know that its on multiple fights sites and major news sites.
This added with the mega fight proposed between Joshua and Wilder there could be a major anticlimax coming.
Parker is quietly getting his camp concluded, a little fanfare, a little interest. Mean while AJ is about to wrestle Thunderlips.....There's just a sense that while AJ and Hearn say Parker is all they are concerned about you know they are all thinking about the houses they will be buying their extended family members and the rari's they'll be driving after the fight with Wilder. This is the first half of Rocky 3.
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@raznomore said in Parker v ??:
I wondered if Barry and JP were smart enough to make the Fury fight look like a shit show. But then the idea is always to make a statement so the big money comes and comes sooner rather than later. I also think it's giving Barry far too much credit. He's a machismo throwback whos pep talks go a long the lines of "you can do it!" and "you've got to dig deep Joe".
I pretty much gave up on the idea that sports people keep huge cards up their sleeves at the '99 RWC (loads of people were saying John Hart was keeping his powder dry).
Only thing with boxing is that a couple of decent punches at the right time can win it from nowhere.
Joshua definitely the favourite, but Parker is certainly not out of it. If it goes the distance, though, I expect AJ to win.
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@bovidae I reckon he's rattled and that's why he's carrying on like that. He might not like JP but why not talk to the media? When I lived in London I worked with a guy based in Watford who said he had a bit of a rep around Watford for being a bit of a street thug. Thought maybe it was Tall Poppy/Sour Grapes but heard it a few times during the short time I worked there. I'm not convinced by his 'Holier than thou' act - he's like the Adam Gilchrist of boxing.
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@chiefy07 He's as fake as they come. Just look at the way he went off at Dominic Breazeale when he thought the cameras were turned off before their fight and his racism when having a go at Eddie Chambers on twitter not long ago which got swept under the carpet. Even Dillian Whyte called him out on his fake stay humble stay hungry rubbish a while back. I suppose he was an ex drug dealer so it is to be expected.
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How I am at work and how I am at home are two very different things. I do not have a problem with AJ being nice for the cameras. If Kids look at him think I want to be like him, that persona anyway, all good.
Just so long as he's not a doing a Jon Jones I have no problem with this type of stuff.
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Won't link to it but the Herald has a article on him and Parker really is looking relaxed ahead of the biggest day of his career. I really, really hope he brings it. If he doesn't win I hope its a war where everyone applauds his losing effort. There's just something happening here. a swagger, a confidence that doesn't seem to be built on false bravado and its got me really excited about his prospects. I think he truly believes in himself. That is only part of what will get the job done but he won't win without self belief.
In saying that I'm sure Shane Cameron really believed too...
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This news will be playing a part in JP's increased confidence, and may explain the sub-par performances against Takam, Ruiz and Fury.
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@raznomore listening to his surgeon on the news last night it sounds like the surgery has really helped him, which might make him feel like he has something up his sleeve speed/power wise compared to his recent fights.
I'm not a big boxing fan but am looking forward to this.
Edit @Bovidae - snap!
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I’m a little dubious of the Nz media ( stuff and Nz herald )reporting to be honest , been consistent Good news stories about Joseph and negative stories about AJ .
Almost seem a bit desperate to keep the stories going down that path .
